He had fallen like a stone just as the man had said. He had barely gotten control of his wings by the time he almost crashed into the roof where the scientists were waiting. He only had time to open his wings enough to not hit the roof with killing speed. As it was he had slammed into the hard roof, and had lain there gasping for breath. He tried to get up but another charge had ripped through him. He had groaned then blacked out. He had woken up back in the lab, the straps binding his wings again, almost as soon as he had woken someone injected him and he blacked out again. That was all remembered really until he had woken up in Kayla's apartment. Until then it was all fuzzy, he remembered a couple experiments he had been put through, all had been painful then he had been knocked out again. He shook his head. He didn't want to remember then. He wanted to know who he was, what he was supposed to do. Jaedon. The name kept circling around in his head. It was the only name he had liked, that had stood out. Unless he found out what his real name was, if he even had one, he decided to go by Jaedon. After a long time he fell into a restless sleep.
A few hours later he woke up again. He looked at the clock. It was seven a.m. He got up not knowing what time Kayla would wake. He pulled his shirt back on and opened the door. He looked at Kayla's door, it was shut, he shrugged and went into kitchen, his footsteps making no noise on the floor. He felt like doing something in there but didn't know what he knew how to make. He opened the fridge door and looked in. . He pulled some eggs out and set them on the counter. He rubbed his temple, he had a headache suddenly. He went through Kayla's cabinets looking for something that he could cook the eggs in. He didn't even know how he knew how to cook things. He just, sorta, did. He found a pan and started.
Kayla woke up and rolled over. She tensed as she heard someone in the kitchen. She frowned then relaxed as she remembered who it was. She sat up and threw back the covers and pulled a shirt on over her cami. She stood in the doorway watching as the guy made breakfast. She shifted her weight and her knee cracked. He whirled around, his wing catching the handle of the pan. Kayla stepped forward but he reached down and caught it smoothly and put it back on the stove without taking his eyes off her.
"Good morning," she said her voice scratchy. He nodded. She shook her head and moved to the coffee pot and started making coffee.
"What are you making?" she asked after a moment.
"Um, eggs I think," he said. She smiled and looked at his pans.
"Looks good," she said. He ducked his head. She saw a smiled flit across his normally solemn features.
"Oh, um, I decided on a name," he said quietly. She looked at him.
"Really?" she asked. He nodded but didn't say anything.
"Please, enlighten me," she said. He looked up.
"Sorry, I liked Jaedon," he said. She nodded.
"It fits you," she said. He ducked his head again and turned back to the stove.
"I think it's done," he said. Kayla got down two plates. Jaedon served the two plates and put forks on each plate.
"Thanks," she said. He nodded. Kayla sat down on the floor. He looked down at her, frowning slightly.
"What?" she asked.
"What is the table for?" he asked. Kayla laughed.
"I find the floor comfortable, I use it when I have like large groups over, would you like to sit at the table?" she asked. He shrugged and sat down across from her, leaning against the cabinet. Kayla took a bite.
"Wow, this is good, how did you make it?" she asked. He shrugged.
"I don't really know, I just did," he said. She nodded. After she was done she put the plate to the side and folded her arms.
"So, you kinda need some clothes," she said. He looked down at himself then back up at her.
"I'm pretty sure that I am wearing clothes," he said, a small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. She mock glared at him.
"No, as in more clothes, you can't really keep wearing those, their gonna get kinda dirty," she said. He nodded.
"So you wanna come out today with me?" she asked. He looked at her, eyes widened slightly.
"If you do come you have to hide your wings," she said. He frowned.
"If someone sees you with those you will be put in a freak show, or the people who had you before would take you again," she said. He shuddered and nodded.
"Alright, I'll come," he said. She nodded.
"Cool," she said and stood. She reached down towards him.
"Plate," she said. He looked surprised and handed her the plate. He got to his feet quickly. Kayla quickly washed the dishes that Jaedon had used and stuck them on a towel to dry.
"I gotta shower, do you need to?" she asked. He looked at her uncomprehendingly. She mentally kicked herself. Of course he isn't gonna know what you are talking about! He has been a lab rat his whole life!
"Um yea you would probably want to, I'll show you what to do once I'm finished... don't worry, I'll leave hot water," she said with a smile. He nodded.
"Alright," he said.
"You can go on the computer if you want to, just move the mouse, it will come up, or um, if you don't want to just, yea make yourself at home," she said. He nodded. She went to shower and he sat down on the couch. He looked at her bookshelf and stood again and walked over to it. He scanned the shelves til a title caught his eye. He took it off the shelf and sat down again. He flipped open the book and started reading. Twenty minutes or so Kayla came out of her room, toweling her wet hair.
"Hey, you wanna shower now?" she asked. He looked up from the book and closed it. He stood.
"Sure," she motioned for him to follow her.
"Here," she said going into the bathroom, him following. She pulled a towel and wash cloth out of the closet. She laid the towel on the sink.
"So here, this is how you work the water," she showed him how to turn the water on and adjust the temperature. He nodded taking it all in silently.
"I take it you don't go in with your clothes on?" he asked. She blushed slightly.
"Yea, no clothes," she said. He nodded.
"Ok," she said and left. He closed the door behind her. She shook her head and hung the towel over the back of the computer chair and sat down and moved the mouse. She hung out on the computer for a while. After a bit she got up and cleaned up the kitchen. She looked up as Jaedon came out of her room, dark hair wet and tousled. His wings were spread to dry. He looked at her with a smile. She smiled back.
"Good?" she asked. He nodded and looked down at his towel.
"Where should I put this?" he asked.
"If you throw it over the shower rod, it will dry," she said. He nodded and retraced his steps and hug it up. Kayla dried her hands and grabbed her keys, checking her back pocket for her license and money. Finding both she went into her room and opened her closest. Jaedon came back out of the bathroom and stood behind her. She whirled around when his wing tip brushed her calf. He took a step backward.
"Sorry," he said quietly. She shook her head.
"It's fine, I just didn't hear you come up behind me," she said. He nodded. Kayla took a sweatshirt out of the closet and tossed it to him.
"Here, put that on," she said. He frowned and looked at it.
"Why?" he asked.
"You have large slits in your shirt, and you can't be seen with your wings," she explained.
"Oh yea," he said and pulled the sweatshirt over his head, his wings disappearing under the sweatshirt.
"Good, it fits you mostly, it was my dad's, I borrowed it one time and it never got back to him," she said. He nodded.
"Alright, ready?" she asked. He nodded again.
"Ok, let's go," They went down the stairs and Kayla locked the door behind them and they climbed into the car.
"Here," Kayla reached across him and pulled the buckle over his chest. "It's the law, you gotta wear a belt," she said.
"It goes in here," she said tapping the seat belt clip. His hands came up to take the belt. His hand covered hers and she faltered a moment. She took her hand away abruptly and he clicked the buckle into place. He looked up out the window as she pulled out. He was silent for a while and she didn't know how break the silence. She flicked on the radio and music filled the car.
End of Part 6
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